MANFRED CLYNES
SELECTED EXCERPTS FROM EUROPEAN REVIEWS, TROUW, AMSTERDAM

THE MIRACLE IN THE CONCERTGEBOUW CHAMBER MUSIC HALL

After the first bars, of the Aria, it was already clear that here was a dedicated master playing, a man who had immersed himself completely in the spiritual sphere of the work. Someone, who across the tremendous technical difficulties which pile up in the variations that follow, made the true poetry of this music audible.

Last night Clynes played this piece and it sounded like a musical poem. The public, among whom there were many young people, completely surrendered itself over to the artist and allowed itself to be transported to the highest peaks of musical beauty.

Clynes achieved herewith the miracle of a perfect re-creation, perhaps liable to dispute in the ornamentation, but in its totality showing deep insight and true love. To whomever it is given to penetrate so deeply into the spirit of Bach's music and reveal it to others so convincingly, such a man is a blessed artist. R.N.D.

ALGEMEEN DAGBLAD ROTTERDAM

Manfred Clynes appeared to have enclosed his Bach completely in his heart.

DE TELEGRAF AND HET NIEUWS VAN DE DAG, AMSTERDAM

Here is someone playing, who not only has a pure and sincere love of his art, and knows his job, but to whom in addition Bach's notes are a living reality.

Clynes’ art as a result has equilibrium and perfect naturalness, and he has a beautiful clear tone. The sound has tension, and it sings, and at times has a truly epic quality. A man who can play this exacting music so relaxedly, and turns it into such a meaningful experience, is a strong personality and a true artist. H.J.M.Muller

THE TIJD - AMSTERDAM

The success that Clynes' unpresumptuous performance evoked,proved how much he had moved his audience.

THE TIMES, LONDON

A performance both deeply thoughtful and deeply felt, each successive variation was a very definite excursion into a new spiritual world. His fingers were efficient, obedient servants of his mind, and he succeeded in producing sympathetic, singing tone from his instrument.

THE DAILY MAIL, LONDON

Bach’ s Goldberg Variations commanded the alert attention of a large Royal Festival Hall audience last night.

Mr. Manfred Clynes has gained a special reputation for his playing of this tremendous work. The 30 variations, sublime in their intellectual content, and astonishing in their technical fertility, demand both unusual keyboard dexterity and great power of the mind. Mr. Clynes has what the variations require, an assured control of the notes and a deep insight into the Bach spirit.

MET VRIJE VOLK,AMSTERDAM

Clynes captivated us completely from the beginning to end with his musical, tasteful and technically masterful way of playing, and helped us to realize the greatness of Bach's Masterwork.

The audience which filled the hall, greatly appreciated and acclaimed his interpretation. Karel Mengelberg

VOLKSRECHT ZURICH

Manfred Clynes presented himself to the Zurich public. A brilliant reputation preceded him, and he proved himself with his flawless pianistic performance an unquestionably outstanding player. In addition he is an extraordinarily sensitive musician, to say the least.

TAGES ANZEIGER ZURICH

The old dispute whether the Goldberg Variations are to be played on the harpsichord or piano becomes futile, when someone sits at the instrument who can truly conceive and execute this work in the spirit of Bach. This is certainly so in the case of the extraordinarily gifted young Manfred Clynes.

His healthy feeling and high artistic intelligence gave warm life. The audience was completely captivated, for Manfred Clynes played the work actually as it used to be said "denenLiebhabern Zur Gemuthsergetzung" (Bach's dedication: to the enjoyment of music lovers).

DAGENS NYHETER STOCKHOLM

Clynes' presentation was most impressive, without doubt. He is a secure technician who easily conquers the most difficult tasks. His interpretation of the whole work was truly admirable.

MORGENTIDNINGEN STOCKHOLM

Mr. Clynes is a master of his instrument. He plays with unusually warm and intelligent execution. At times he achieves breathtaking brilliance.

AFTONBLADET STOCKHOLM

Mr. Clynes has a deepmusical fantasy.

AFTONTIDINGEN STOCKHOLM

Mr. Clynes was the personification of modesty, sensitive in his touch like a young man in love, yet free from sentimentality, powerful in spirit and of hand when required, but never rough.

POLITIKEN, COPENHAGEN

With the young Australian pianist, Bach is in the right hands. He has an extraordinarily fine feeling for the values of tone, colour, and a true sense of the melodicline. His rhythm is both flexible and firm. During the almost two hours the performance lasted, he held his audience captive. Manfred Clynes is a pianist under whose incredibly clever and flexible hands music comes truly to live and sing.

SOCIALDEMOKRATEN, COPENHAGEN

It was only fitting, that the fascinated audience applauded so much, for the eminent playing of Manfred Clynes deserves extraordinary attention.

KRISTELIGTDAGBLAD, COPENHAGEN

Manfred Clynes is a very considerable pianist, and his interpretation of the masterly work places him, as a musician, on the same high level as his disciplined skill. It was an ennobling experience to hear him play the Goldberg Variations.

ZURCHER WOCHE, ZURICH

Manfred Clynes playing was remarkably unorthodox. He did not approach Bach with the mossy attitude of those, who search for antique things. Nor did he degrade Bach to professorial arithmetic; in short, he did not deprive it of its life. And, it must be emphasized, he brought to life the protestant inwardness which adorns the work.